To submit your comments, you can use our online feedback
form or you can print a hard
copy and mail it to us. Either way, we'd love
to hear from you!
“It was a great empathy challenge & a good witness.” – Jeff Finnegan, Ferguson MO
“…It is great that the groups/ churches don’t need any start up money for this project. The educational DVD’s are of great value in raising awareness.” – Bonnie Moser, Vicksburg, MI
“The idea of consumption to contribution is very powerful.” – Carolyn Polchow, Los Angeles, CA
“I think this is a great ministry and was very glad to discover it when we did. Thank you for all of your work for this project.” – Marilynn Knott, Oklahoma City, OK
“We made labels and wrapped them on water bottles – sold them with the bracelets for $1 at high school lunch as our fundraiser.” – Morgan Hann, Sugar Land, Tx
“Doing this in conjunction with Franciscan Spirituality courses was a great way for students to be in solidarity with the poor and help them at the same time!” – Sister Anita Holzmer, Fort Wayne, Indiana
“This was a great project and I look forward to receiving the feedback and google earth coordinates of the well we helped to build.” – Haley Acuff, Concord, NC
“We started this project … and did it at our high school during Lent. Our little trickle of water… grew and grew and grew. As the word got out into the community others joined our school…” – Sandy Baldwin, St. Cloud, MN
“Thank you for a great challenge! It was easy to put together and all the online materials were great.” – Molly Clark, Belton, MO
If you are considering a ‘Water Challenge’ in your community, we highly recommend Brenda and her staff for your consideration. Read more. Katherine Runman-Zimney, The Center for Mission -
Archdiocese of Saint Paul
The project is really wonderful. We loved that it gave the kids an "experience" to go with the donation. Thank you for putting together such a complete package for such a worthy cause. I'm sure we will give it ago again some other time. Patti Kamper, Preschool/Elementary Coordinator, St. Michael Catholic Church
“The kids were stunned that everyone didn’t have clean water to drink. … We had children empty their entire piggy banks!” Crawford Street United Methodist Church
“It raised awareness and opened people’s eyes to the fact that they can make a difference.” Faith Bible Chapel Youth Group
Well, we did it again! This is the third year that the Franciscan Youth USA participated in the H2O Project, and every year it's just gotten bigger! I thought I would send you the national email that I sent out. In the next email I will attach some youth photos if you care to use them.
The Franciscan Youth/Young Adult Commission is thrilled to announce the following total donations received for the 2007 Lenten Project, “The H2O Project”, as of June 1st. We have once again surpassed all hopes! $11,853.78 was collected in the name of the Franciscan Youth USA. $ 1,250.00 will be donated to Mercy Ships for Clean Water Projects, $10,603.78 will be donated to the Franciscan Mission Service for Clean Water projects in the village of Cochabamba, Bolivia, South America See the full list of participants located at www.franciscanyouthusa.com Kathy Taormina, SFO, National FYYA Commission Chair
The whole parish did the project together. The pastor spoke at all Masses on the Sunday before Ash Wed and the youth group gave out the bracelets, the stickers and an info sheet. Every group in the parish participated from the elementary faith formation, to the men's club, to the parish school, to the Confirmation program...everyone!
We all wore our bracelets for the 2 weeks including the priests. Some families put out jars on their dining room table and every time they gave up drinking something other than tap water they put a note in the jar saying the amount of money they saved. One teen had a little paper in his pocket and he kept tabs that way. Our parish secretary connected her bracelet to her plastic water bottle that she kept filling from the tap. Some were pretty grumpy from no coffee, and I was at first but I actually decided to give up caffeine all together so even after the project I am not drinking coffee or any caffeine beverage.
On the third week of Lent everyone brought their money to Mass and Fr. Dave had put out a little wooden well at the front of church and everyone put their money in the well. We got everything from checks to big cups of change collected by children. It was a project that united our parish and we all were saying how we'll never take a drink of water again without counting our blessings and thinking of others. Thanks for the eye opening experience! Tami Palladino, Coordinator of Youth Ministry, St. Charles Catholic Church, San Carlos, CA
"Our kids loved the H2O project and can't wait until Advent to do it again!!"
"Our students now have an awareness about water issues in our world....." Annette Hritz, Second Grade Teacher, Guardian Angels Schools, Chaska, MN
It
was a simple project yet challenging! As the youth
director I had a student calling me everyday telling
me how hard it was to go without their favorite
soda or juice. This gave me an opportunity to
encourage them and express to them that our sacrifice
is nothing compared to Christ's sacrifice for
us!
We began our two weeks on the night that the youth
cooked Wed. night church dinner. We served only
water and put out fliers that told about the H2O
Project. Several adults committed to praying for
us and gave us money towards the water. At the
end we were able to share a testimony in the Sunday
worship service that brought attention to the
need for clean water around the world. The church
family was very proud of the youth! We continue
to pray for ways that we can help those around
the world who are in need. Thanks for giving us
a way to contribute! Spiritual Benefits: We prayed for the people who would be affected
by the sacrifice we were making.
Sarah Brasington, Lorena United Methodist
Youth
It was the easiest fundraising project I have
ever been a part of. All of the materials you
have online are very helpful. Elizabeth
Limpic, Mercy Church
Our
students were happy to give to a cause which they
saw was dire. They spoke often of our chapel presentation
where they saw pictures of children who went to
school without water for the whole day. They also
appreciated hearing from the gentleman who dug
wells in Honduras and Africa and were touched
when he explained the real meaning of the "water"
project. We look forward to giving our students
continued opportunities to give to this cause.
Sincerely, Jean Himes, Secondary Principal,
Northland Christian School
It's a dynamite idea. The H2O Project gave the
students of our religious school a pratical, reasonable,
concrete way of putting Jewish values and Jewish
teachings into practice. Rabbi Matt Michaels, Congregation Jewish
Community North
The H2O Project is a fantastic way to save lives.
And it's so simple. With the Lord's blessing,
the fruits of our labour exceeded our most optimistic
projections. Truly a wonderful way to glorify
the name of Jesus Christ!
Michael & Susanne Branham; St. Stephens
Church; Twickenham, UK
It’s so simple. This is one of the coolest
things we’ve ever done. Betty Christian, Lakewood UMC, Spring,
TX
My own daughter has been very influenced by this. She is
doing it again on her own for lent. The rest of us have seen
lifetime changes for our family. My students were very excited.
It’s great to have the wristbands and the water cups.
They loved it. Jane Schwartz, Cubs for Christ, Kleb Intermediate,
Spring, TX
We were pleased to play a part in this project. Thanks! John C. Mulder, President, Christian Community Foundation,
Inc. Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904
Good for seeing a need and doing something about it. If the
whole church did it we would make an impact far
beyond anything we could imagine for the Kingdom. Chris Coffyn, Wycliffe Ministries
One of our leaders commented on how she leaned
more on the Lord during the two weeks for her
strength.
New Heights Church Junior High Girls'
Cell Group , Fayetteville, AR
The H2O Project helped make us more aware of our
blessings . It was an easy way to raise a lot
of money in a way the kids could understand the
reason for doing it. It was a great program. Sara M. , St. Andrew's United Methodist Cross Club, Grapevine, TX
This helped us to understand who we pray for when
we pray for those in need. Leslie B. , St. Catherine of Siena Church , Mendon, NY
The video makes you realize how blessed you are.
We hope to get the rest of the sorority involved
next year.
Sue B., Delta Delta Delta Sorority, Ohio State University
Those who participated enjoyed sharing with their
friends what they were doing and why. This is
a great project for the youth group. Julie H., Sugar Creek Baptist Church , Sugar Land, TX
We appreciated the opportunity to contribute to
the global effort to help people. We really liked
the wristbands and the opportunity to explain
why we were wearing them. Lynn O. , St. Oliver Plunkett , Snellville, GA
The H2O Project reminded us how fortunate we are. Michele K., Brownie Girl Scout Troop 11522, Cypress, TX
Our parish family found The H2O Project to be
particularly touching since it involved a resource
that we tend to take for granted. It was great
to hear parents comment on how their children
would remind then both at home and in restaurants
to during only water. This project is truly a
way to make us all aware of how blessed we are
to have never suffered thirst. It was also a blessing
to be able to provide for our brothers and sisters
that are not so fortunate. Deborah S., St. Elizabeth Catholic Community , Port Neches, TX
The kids sacrificed for the sake of others. The
12th grade got competitive to see who could raise
the most. They all understood that their contributions
were helping those less fortunate than themselves.
Robin G. , Holy Redeemer Church, New Brennen, OH
The H2O Project is simple to present and implement. Mary Sue B., Holy Cross School, Santa Cruz, CA
Our student and staff took the challenge, and it was simpler
than I expected! Coach Pace, RoseHill Christian School
The students at Klein High School's Fellowship
of Christian Athletes were eager to participate
in The H2O Project this past year. They encouraged
each other not only to drink water and save their
own Coke money for clean water wells, but also
to pray for those who will potentially hear the
Gospel of Jesus because the physical need for
clean water will be met. The students' mature
discipline and sacrifice for such a worthy cause
was inspiring.
The
information and instructions Brenda provided were
clear and concise, and students were excited about
taking on the challenge and seeing a real result
from their efforts. Thanks, World Vision, for
helping us learn stewardship and sacrifice in
such a positive, practical way. We hope to make
our involvement an annual tradition!
Lamar Schrader, FCA Sponsor
